The 2025 Horse of the Year award is nearing its decision, with a select panel of 15 journalists and industry experts currently voting. The award is considered the most coveted honour in the racing community, recognising outstanding achievements of top equine performers.

The voting process involves a careful evaluation of each candidate’s performance, taking into account factors such as racing record, consistency, and overall impact on the sport. The winner of the 2024 Horse of the Year award will be announced at a later date and is expected to be a highly anticipated and celebrated event.

After an impressive season consisting of seven wins and one second-place finish from eight starts,
Rideallday (USA), from the stables of many-time champion Philip Feanny, is poised to sweep the awards at the upcoming ceremony.

Rideallday’s impressive resume includes victories in the prestigious US$300,000 Mouttet Mile (invitational) on December 6, the richest single purse event in the English-speaking Caribbean, as well as the Port Royal Sprint on November 16. Bred by Vekoma out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Song of Hours, Rideallday has earned $30,260,800 in stakes.

In addition to the coveted Horse of the Year title, Rideallday is also expected to take home several awards, including Best Three-Year-Old Male Middle Distance Performer, Best Three-Year-Old Performer, Best Three-Year-Old Male, Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Middle Distance Performer, and Champion Foreign-Bred.

Legacy Isle (USA), who was second to Rideallday in the Mouttet Mile, is expected to be voted as first runner-up to the Horse of Year as well sweeping the awards for the four-year-olds and upward categories.

The 2025 racing season saw several impressive performances from talented local-bred three-year-olds, and two standouts are expected to receive top honours.

I Dream Again was outstanding in winning the Jamaica Derby and the Jamaica St Leger Classic races. The Jason DaCosta trainee also secured the accolade of People’s Choice Performance of the Year at the 2025 RJRGleaner National Sports Awards ceremony for his Jamaica Derby performance. His Classic wins cemented his status as a top performer in the staying division.

The Most Improved Trainer award is looking like a tight contest, with five trainers in the running: Peter-John Parsard, Adrian Prince, Oral Hayden, Robert Pearson, and Barrington Bernard. All have shown significant improvement, but Parsard and Prince seem to be the top contenders.

Parsard jumped from eighth place in 2024 with 15 wins and $13,202,245 in stakes earnings to fourth place with 32 wins and $26,345,800 in stakes earnings in 2025. Prince, on the other hand, rose from 19th place with nine wins and $6,674,525 in stakes earnings in 2024 to sixth place with 26 wins and $18,653,050 in stakes earnings last year.

Demar Williams is looking like the front-runner for the Most Improved Jockey award, having jumped from 61st place with one win in 2024 to fourth place with 44 wins last season.

Richie Shakes is also a contender, moving from 65th place with one win to sixth place with 36 wins. The other nominees are Emelio McLean, Tajay Suckoo, and veteran Ian Spence.

Legacy Isle should be voted as first runner-up to Horse of the Year. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Jockey Robert Halledeen stands tall in the saddle as he crosses the finishing line in first place aboard I Dream Aagin in the 105th running of the $7.5-million Jamaica Derby Classic at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Trainer Peter-John Parsard is expected to win the Most Improved Trainer award.

Adrian Prince, a top contender for Most Improved Trainer.

Demar Williams, the front-runner for Most Improved Rider. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

We Jammin, a strong contender for Champion Two-Year-Old of 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)